Hertsmere Borough Council has approved DC01UK’s plans to build Europe’s largest cloud and AI data centre on a site in Hertsmere, Hertfordshire.
The best-in-class facility, which has an estimated construction value of circa £3.75bn, will provide up to 2m sq ft of floor space on a 85-acre site adjacent to the A1 and M25, just east of South Mimms Services.
The site already has a reserved power reservation of 400MVA from the National Grid thanks to its proximity to the Elstree (Letchmore Heath) substation.
The location is also close to the UK’s national and international fibre optic routes and is near the established and emerging availability zones in the region.
A spokesperson for DC01UK said: “We want to thank Hertsmere Borough Council for their open and pragmatic approach to DC01UK’s plans. They understand our ambition for both the project and the borough. It will bring huge benefits for local people through a stronger local economy, more skilled jobs and better opportunities. Our plans also include a raft of upgrades for local transport, including new and existing bus routes, expansion of the local cycle hire scheme and road improvements.
“This approval will also solidify Hertsmere’s status as a leading region in the South East as a tech and media superhub, complementing other established, large technology-driven organisations and film studios in the area.
“With planning for this important piece of critical national infrastructure now approved, the site stands ready to power the needs of tomorrow bringing a much-welcomed boost to the UK’s digital economy. Our plan will put Hertfordshire at the epicentre of the new data centre revolution, as well as creating £3.75bn for the economy during construction and almost 14,000 indirect jobs once operational.”
Sir Chris Bryant MP, minister for telecoms, added: “Data centres are the beating hearts of this modern age, powering the digital infrastructure that we can no longer live without. That is why I am thrilled to see that Hertsmere Council has granted planning permission to one of the largest data centre projects in Europe.
“Data centres like this will not only play a pivotal role in our AI Opportunities Action Plan, but drive economic growth through the creation of skilled jobs across the South East.”
Jeremy Newmark, leader of Hertsmere Borough Council and chair of the Hertfordshire Growth Board, said: “This is a momentous development for our borough. Hertsmere has cleared the way to becoming the home of a data centre which will be integral to serving Britain with cutting-edge technology. It’ll be a piece of critical national infrastructure needed for many generations to come.
“The project, which is aligned with the council’s vision, is set to deliver hugely significant growth and economic benefits for the area, creating jobs during and after the construction phase, as well as new businesses. This news clearly reinforces Hertsmere’s status as an extremely attractive location for business and industry, with a reputation that is getting even stronger.
“The data centre will provide critical synergies for our significant local film and TV sector, with three major sets of studios in Borehamwood. The Government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan, which was announced earlier this month, shows the impact that the AI revolution is likely to have for many years to come and data centres, such as this, will play a major part.
“While outline planning permission has been granted, we will, of course, continue to listen to and engage with residents about these exciting plans as more details are firmed up. As I’ve said before, I’m sure local people will see the massive value this development could bring to our area.”
Stephen Beard, head of data centres at Knight Frank who is advising DC01UK on the project, said: “DC01UK is a first of its kind. The largest data centre development in Europe in the world’s second largest market, which is perfectly positioned in its ability to service the ever-increasing cloud demand today whilst accommodating the AI needs of tomorrow. A first and great example of the UK’s shift towards becoming a dominant superpower in cloud, AI and general digital infrastructure.”
